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Government grants for electric cars

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) provides grants to help individuals and businesses buy an electric vehicle (EV) or install charging points

What government EV grants are there?

Currently, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is offering four grants to help fund electric cars and EV chargers:

Plug-in Car Grant (PICG)

This grant is available through car manufactures and dealerships who pass the discount to customers. The vehicles have to be on the government's approved list.

Here's what discount you get on the purchase price:

  • Wheelchair accessible vehicles - up to 35%, capped at £2,500
  • Mopeds - up to 35%, capped at £150
  • Motorcycles - up to 35%, capped at £500
  • Small vans - up to 35%, capped at £2,500
  • Large vans - up to 20%, capped at £5,000
  • Small trucks - up to 20% capped at £16,000
  • Large trucks - up to 20% capped at £25,000
couple buying an electric car from dealer

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) which helps plug-in vehicle owners offset up to £350 of their residential EV charger, this scheme is now limited to homeowners who live in flats and people in rental accommodation (flats and single-use properties).

To claim, you'll need to:

 

 Electric car charging with a pod point charger

Home EV charger grant FAQs

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme provides up to £350 for drivers who have bought, or leased, a new or second hand eligible electric vehicle on or after 1 October 2016, as long as they have not claimed against a previous Government chargepoint scheme.

This includes:

  • Drivers assigned an eligible company car for at least six months
  • Individuals who lease an eligible vehicle for at least six months
  • Employees who have leased an eligible electric car as part of a salary-sacrifice scheme
  • Individuals who are named by their employer as the primary user of an eligible electric vehicle for at least six months
  • Drivers who can prove that they have ordered an eligible electric car

The grant isn’t available to drivers of electric cars who:

  • Are not on the list of eligible EVs, or whose car is registered outside of the UK;
  • Drivers who sometimes use an electric vehicle, but are not listed as the main driver;
  • Individuals who drive or lease an electric car for less than six months;
  • Drivers who are borrowing an electric vehicle from friends or family;
  • Drivers who only have access to an electric vehicle through a car club;
  • Drivers who want to claim for a second home charger but don’t have two eligible vehicles.

The authorised installer will claim 75% of the cost (capped at £350) on your behalf before the installation and once all the relevant paperwork is completed. You will need to agree with the installer on how you pay the remaining cost.

EVHS can be used for a maximum of two eligible electric cars if all terms and conditions are met. Your installer will have to speak to your local Distribution Network Operator before installing two EV chargers, or a second home charge point at a single address.

This type of electric car charger is not eligible for a grant.

Your home electric car charge point supplier or installer should be able to answer any questions you have or you can contact OZEV at Chargepoint.Grants@olev.gsi.gov.uk

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Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme for businesses for electric car charger installation. It can cover up to 75% of the cost and a maximum of £350 for each socket, for up to 40 sockets.

Here are three main points to consider when applying for WCS:

  • Your business has to have a Companies House Reference Number 
  • Own the business premises or have the landlord's permission to install the chargers
  • Use an authorised EV charger installer
Pod Point business charger

Workplace EV charging grant FAQs

View our business EV charging options - to suit all workplace needs. 

It's best to apply for the WCS online.  Once you’ve done that, a voucher will be generated, which is valid for four months. Your approved installer will then complete the work and submit a claim on the WCS portal. They then receive the grant of up to 75%, to a maximum of £350.

Your workplace car charger installer should be able to answer any questions you have. You can also have a look at the government's website's section on workplace charging information.  

No. You will be asked to declare either a need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure or an intention to encourage uptake amongst your staff and/or fleet.

On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

electric cars plugged in on street

The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) provides funding for local authorities towards the cost of installing on-street residential electric car chargers. This is great for people who don't have offstreet parking. 

The scheme, run by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) for OZEV, has an allocated pot of money available to local authorities on a first-come, first served, basis.

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